GSG vs. GLD
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD).
GSG and GLD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GSG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P GSCI Total Return Index. It was launched on Jul 21, 2006. GLD is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Nov 18, 2004. Both GSG and GLD are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: GSG or GLD.
Key characteristics
| GSG | GLD | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 11.17% | 14.87% |
| 1Y Return | 6.80% | 17.90% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 15.34% | 9.71% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 6.41% | 12.81% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | -3.93% | 5.83% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.40 | 1.52 |
| Daily Std Dev | 17.71% | 12.07% |
| Max Drawdown | -89.62% | -45.56% |
| Current Drawdown | -70.46% | -0.74% |
Correlation
The correlation between GSG and GLD is 0.25, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
GSG vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, GSG achieves a 11.17% return, which is significantly lower than GLD's 14.87% return. Over the past 10 years, GSG has underperformed GLD with an annualized return of -3.93%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively higher 5.83% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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GSG vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GSG vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
GSG vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
Neither GSG nor GLD has paid dividends to shareholders.
Drawdowns
GSG vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GSG drawdown since its inception was -89.62%, which is greater than GLD's maximum drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GSG and GLD. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GSG vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) is 3.20%, while SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) has a volatility of 4.41%. This indicates that GSG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.